Longford man who took break-up badly ‘badgered’ woman with hundreds of calls and texts

A father of three who 'badgered' his ex-partner and the mother of his kids in county Longford with hundreds of phone calls, texts and social media messages has been handed a one month suspended prison sentence.

The defendant, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the injured party, appeared in Longford District Court last week accused of breaching a safety order.

Sergeant Mark Mahon said the complainant called to her local garda station at 8pm on January last to say she had "received over 100 video calls and text messages" from the accused between January 21 and 23 last.

"The injured party outlined in her statement that she was in fear because of this."

A protection order was subsequently grated.

Sgt Mahon said on March 17 last at 9am the complainant called to the garda station again and stated she "had received over 200 messages from a TikTok account from her ex-partner on dates between March 17 and March 24 last inclusive.

Sgt Mahon outlined the injured party also received over 200 private phone calls during the same eight day period, which she believes came from her ex-partner.

"She stated that she accidentally answered three of them and heard his voice on the line.

"She stated she is scared of him and what he is capable of doing.

"She is currently in possession of a safety order that bans her ex-partner from contacting her via any means of communication only to discuss access to children."

Sgt Mahon said the children currently live with the mother at her residence in county Longford, while their father lives outside the county.

The court heard the defendant had eight previous convictions, but none of those related to domestic matters.

Judge Deirdre Gearty asked when the safety order was put in place and she heard safety order was granted by consent on March 10 last for two years with provision for communication by email in relation to access to the children".

The defendant said he had not seen his children since last Christmas and he had not spoken to them over the phone since last February.

Solicitor Diarmuid Quinn, defending, said thankfully things had improved for his client.

"Clearly he took the break-up of this relationship very badly, I understand they were together for more than 10 years and certainly marriage was a possibility.

"[The complainant] felt it was necessary to get the order and we accept fully that breaches were made and thankfully they only happened by text message and perhaps some calls as well.

"But, he is very regretful of his actions and he wants to convey his apology to the [complainant] and to the court and he has written a letter of apology.

"I don't believe there will be any more breaches."

Mr Quinn said his client had been dealing with some health issues and he attended Cuan Mhuire treatment centre for several weeks due to a problem with drugs and he is now 'doing a lot better'.

Judge Gearty stressed a safety order is there to protect people and breaching it and 'badgering' his ex-partner is a very serious matter which concerns her.

She convicted the defendant and imposed a four-week term of imprisonment that was suspended for two years.

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